NEWS ARCHIVE

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska gets permit for new campus near 86th, Park Drive

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska gets permit for new campus near 86th, Park Drive

WEBVTT CHIN DONE IS WITH THE VOTEAND WHAT IS NEXT.>> ALSO THE COUNCIL MEMBERSVOTED TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL USEPERMIT.THIS MEANS THE CAMPUS COULDBECOME A SITE OF TROUBLE ANDHEALTH SERVICES, EVEN A SWEATLODGE.THE POCKET DRIVE OF NEBRASKASAYS IT HAS OUTGROWN ITS CURRENTHEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER NEAR26 NJ.NOW, IT IS WORKING TO GROW 10TIMES IN SIZE, MOVING TO THEFORMER HEADQUARTERS NEAR 84THAND PARK DRIVE >> A CAN FITEVERY NEED WE ARE LOOKING FORFROM COSTS ALL THE WAY DOWN TOSIZE, LOCATION.REPORTER: TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVESAS THE COUNCIL FOR A SPECIAL USEPERMIT.>> IT IS LIKE GASOLINE.ANY SPARKLE WILL LIGHT OFF.>> OWNERS OF THE SHOP NEARBYWORRIED THE OPEN FIRE WILL PUTITS BUSINESS AT RISK.THE FIRE CHIEF JUST HAPPENS TOBE IN THE CHAMBERS OF THECOUNCIL ASKED FOR HIS OPINION.>> I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH THISBECAUSE AS I WAS MADE AWARE OFTHE SITUATION, I SENT THIS TOOUR INSPECTORS TO GO OUT ANDLOOK AT THE PLANS REPORTER: THE-- PLANS.REPORTER: IT IS A $30 MILLIONINVESTMENT AND WILL EMPLOY 100PEOPLE ON THIS SITE ALONE.THE COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THEPERMIT FOR THE OVERALL SITE AS ATROUBLE KANSAS -- CAMPUS.BUT THEY WILL NEED TO GO THROUGHA SEVERAL APPROVAL PROCESS.LEADERS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUETO WORK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS ANDFOLLOW PROTOCOL.>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKINGWITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ANYOFFICIALS THAT WE NEED TO MOVEFORWARD ON THE PERMITTINGPROCESS TO ALLOW US TO DO WHATWE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR OVER 20YEARS.>> THEY WILL CLOSE ON THELOCATION.LEADERS TELL ME WITHRENOVATIONS, IT WILL BE AT LEASTA YEAR BEFORE THEY MOVE IN.THE CURRENT CENTER NEAR 26TH ANDJ WON'T CLOSE UNTIL THE NEW ONE

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska gets permit for new campus near 86th, Park Drive

The Omaha City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a special use permit for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.

The tribe wants to buy 10 acres by Ralston High school for a new campus with tribal and health services, community and transportation center, even a sweat lodge.

The tribe said it has outgrown its current health and wellness center near 26th and J Streets. Now, it's working to grow ten times in size by moving to the former InfoGroup headquarters near 84th Circle and Park Drive.

“It fit every need that we were looking for, from cost to all the way down to size, location,” said Larry Wright, Jr., chairman of the tribe.

Although all seven council members voted to approve the permit, the location of the sweat lodge was the hot topic during the meeting.

“It's just like dynamite, it's like gasoline, any spark would light it off,” said Herb Grothe, who, along with his representation, were the only opponents who spoke at the meeting.

Grothe’s family owns the cabinet shop nearby and told the council they’re worried the open fire would put their business and an auto and body shop at risk.

The Omaha fire chief just happened to be in the chambers, so the council asked for his opinion.

“I would have to research this because as I was made aware of this situation, I assigned this to our inspectors to go out and look at the plans,” said Chief Dan Olsen.

The seven-parcel site is a $30 million investment and will employ 100 people on the healthcare side alone, according to tribal leaders.

They also said they'll continue to work with their neighbors and follow all protocol, including getting approval for any open fires, which is a separate process.

“We look forward to working with the fire department and any officials that we need to move forward in that permitting process to allow us to continue to do what we've been doing in our current location for over 20 years,” said Wright, Jr.

Wright, Jr. said next, the tribe will close on the new location. With renovations, it will be at least a year before they move in.

The current center near 26th and J Streets won't close until the new one opens.